joi, 11 decembrie 2008

The Revelation of Character

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that wereready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Matt. 25:10.

Let none follow the example of the foolish virgins and think that itwill be safe to wait until the crisis comes before gaining a preparation ofcharacter to stand in that time. It will be too late to seek for therighteousness of Christ when the guests are called in and examined. Now isthe time to put on the righteousness of Christ --the wedding garment thatwill fit you to enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb. In the parable,the foolish virgins are represented as begging for oil and failing toreceive it at their request. This is symbolic of those who have not preparedthemselves by developing a character to stand in a time of crisis. It is asif they should go to their neighbors and say, Give me your character or Ishall be lost. Those that were wise could not impart their oil to theflickering lamps of the foolish virgins. Character is not transferable. Itis not to be bought or sold; it is to be acquired. The Lord has given toevery individual an opportunity to obtain a righteous character . . ., butHe has not provided a way by which one human agent may impart to another thecharacter which he has developed. . . .

The day is coming, and it is close upon us, when every phase ofcharacter will be revealed by special temptation. Those who remain true toprinciple, who exercise faith to the end, will be those who have proved trueunder test and trial during the previous hours of their probation, and haveformed characters after the likeness of Christ. It will be those who havecultivated close acquaintance with Christ who, through His wisdom and grace,are partakers of the divine nature. But no human being can give to another,heart devotion and noble qualities of mind, and supply his deficiencies withmoral power.

Let no one put off the day of preparation, lest the call be made, "Goforth to meet the bridegroom," and you be found as were the foolish virgins,with no oil in your vessels with your lamps.

Un comentariu:

It is said that in heaven we will take our characters as they are, when Jesus comes again. I like this sentence: "It is as if they should go to their neighbors and say, Give me your character or I shall be lost." It's our responsibility to develop our characters. I want to put up a question. What if a person has just started changing his life and Jesus comes? He hasn't achieved the character God wants from us. How do you think - is he going to be in heaven?